Top 5 Tools To Add To Your Marketing Mix

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When it comes to marketing, diversity is key — and that’s why it’s important to have several proven tools in your marketing mix. Whether you’re trying to market products or services, here are five of the most effective tools you can add to your marketing mix.

1) Social Media
Despite many case studies, some companies are still reluctant to embrace social media as a marketing tool. This will become imperative for small business growth in 2014. In a recent poll by Adobe, 14 percent of marketers said that within the next three years social marketing will be the number one key to superior performance.  This ranks social media higher than digital advertising or public relations marketing. To enhance your social media marketing, small businesses should begin by selecting a social dashboard service. Some examples are: Hootsuite, Podio, (which manages workflows and projects) and Buffer (which automatically shares content across social media sites).

2) Online Videos  

In a study taken by the consulting firm Accenture found that an increasing number of television viewers use laptops and tablets while watching TV, with 14 percent of those surveyed saying that they use their tablets to research content that they’re watching on television. Given these numbers, the time is ripe to tie in online video marketing with television content and advertising. Social video services, like Twitter’s  Vine, are also rapidly increasing their user bases. Video will only continue to grow in popularity and implementation, and is a tool that small business marketers must get behind.

3) Mobile Marketing   Near field communication technology (NFC), which enables users to make wireless credit/debit card payments with their mobile devices, is already being used for marketing purposes in Great Britain. For example, customers can now hold their NFC-capable smartphone or tablet next to a bus stop poster to access immediate, relevant information on their device. Since NFC is now being launched for mobile payment usage across the US, chances are that you’ll soon be seeing NFC marketing strategies utilized here as well.

4) Analytics  
Data driven marketing is going to be a game changer for small business marketers in 2014. Making data-driven decisions involves investment in listening tools. The most commonly used tool is Google Analytics. This service allows you to take a deeper dive into the traffic patterns and behaviors of your current audience. Some other popular analytics tools include Bit.ly, Campaign Monitor and Marketo.

5) Online Chat
Check out any online retailer, and you’ll notice the increasing number of online chat support services available. By utilizing online chat tools such as Olark, LiveHelpNow and LivePerson, you can track your analytics — as well as provide that pivotal one-on-one customer communication that can increase sales.

Whatever options you choose, be sure to have at least several high-power tools in your marketing mix.